Category Archives: Motivation

The I’m-Having-So-Much-Fun-I-Forgot-I’m-Exercising Workout

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It’s become a joke this season on our Team LUNA Chix Portland Run team that it’s either scorching or pouring when we meet, so after several weeks of record-high temps I knew it was time to reach into my bag of tricks to get everyone motivated amid the malaise. We did this workout a few weeks ago, and it went over so well that I wanted to share it here.

Ever get one of those days where you’re just struggling to get that workout done? Whether it’s trying to get out the door or waffling on which type of exercise to do, this is the perfect way to fool your body into getting active when your brain’s not having any of it.

The I’m-Having-So-Much-Fun-I-Forgot-I’m-Exercising Workout

What you need: 

  • Deck of cards
  • Marker
  • Track or open place to do some running (at least 100 meters at a time)

What to do: 

  1. Make a list of body-weight exercises (think moves that can be done anywhere, anytime — planks, jumping jacks, squats, lunges, push-ups, etc.)
  2. Get a deck of cards, and write an exercise on each card (I wrote in numbers for face cards: Jacks = 11, Queens = 12, Kings = 13, Aces = 14)
  3. Give yourself a little something special for the Jokers (ours were “Run a lap”)
  4. Shuffle up the cards, divide them into four piles and place one pile every 100 meters along a track
  5. Start the timer, run to the first set of cards, grab a card off the top and do the exercises
  6. When you’re done with the exercises, place the card on the bottom of the set of cards and run 100 meters to the next pile
  7. Repeat until time is up!

We did 20 minutes for our workout, and when I gave the five-minute warning everyone was shocked at how quickly time had flown by.

Between the distraction of the run-exercise intervals and the element of surprise from the cards, I guarantee you’ll have a blast — and get a great full-body workout in the process.

Got any tips for tricking yourself into a workout when motivation’s flagging? 

Not a ‘Real’ Runner? Here’s Why I Don’t Believe You

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This is a re-post of my latest Huffington Post article, which went live yesterday. It’s written with love for anyone who has dabbled (or wants to dabble) with running, and I thought it was worth sharing here, as well! 

Running can be a bit of an enigma. And I get it; it’s so simple — lace up, head out the door — yet so… complicated. From finding properly-fitting shoes and figuring out nutrition on long runs to way too much information about bodily functions and finding motivation for mile after mile, I can see how there may be a few barriers to entry when comes to joining the ranks of the fleet of feet.

But when did the world’s most accessible sport become something with which people are apprehensive about owning their affiliation?

Case in point: Each Monday night I coach a group of fantastic ladies through Team LUNA Chix. Our local teams in the program include women of all levels, from beginners to casual competitors. The goal is to bring women together to learn a new sport, stay active and encourage other women in their communities to participate in the fun. We train, compete and support each other, while fundraising for our non-profit partner, the Breast Cancer Fund.

Since we’re in our first year in a new city (Portland!), we’ve been actively recruiting. There’s always a lot of interest as we chat about the need for women to get out, get active and set an example for others. We talk about how they’ll meet new people, break a sweat, share some laughs and, heck, even end each of our workouts with snacks.

I get enthusiastic nods and smiles. Yet, when the rubber running shoe hits the road, those grins fade and are replaced by words I’ve heard countless times now:

But I’m not a runner.

Every time I hear that phrase, it feels like a punch in the gut. I love running, and I so badly want others to experience how empowering it can be. Granted, not everyone wants to run… but if you do want to learn, you should never feel the need to downplay your status until (you think) you’re fast/thin/athletic/whatever enough to be able to engage in it with others.

Do you want to know the secret to being able to call yourself a ‘real’ runner?

Get your butt out there and RUN.

There’s no pill to pop, credential to earn or magic formula to decipher in order to become a “real” runner. You don’t have to hit certain milestones in pace, mileage, events completed or years under your belt to qualify. Also, each runner’s body is unique and will react so differently to running that only YOU can be your own expert — finding the shoes that feel good on your feet, the fuel that won’t upset your gut, which distances are your sweet spots, etc.

The process itself is a simple one: Start at Point A and run to Point B. Even if the distance between the two is a few blocks and you take three walk breaks (true story; that’s how I began). Congratulations; you are now — officially, I might add — a runner.

Why? Because running — and being a runner — is as much a state of mind and an attitude as it is putting one foot in front of the other and moving quickly. It transcends time and space and distance and pace.

Yes, it will downright suck sometimes when you miss your goals, get random injuries or just have an “off” day. You’ll have bad workouts that come out of nowhere, you’ll deal with odd aches and pains and and you’ll be disappointed in yourself every so often.

But you know what sucks even more? Robbing yourself of the opportunity to try it on for size because you’re worried about being judged by others (we’re all up in our own heads anyway).

And as you learn to connect with your body in new ways and become more self-aware and appreciative of the feedback you get from this beautiful machine you’re operating, you’ll also realize that running becomes less about the act and more about your approach towards it. Fast or slow, gracefully or awkwardly, long or short, alone or together — it all counts, as long as you’ve got a good attitude and are willing to give it a go.

Yes, there’s a certain level of comfort that comes only with time, patience and practice. But in the meantime, you should never feel as though you aren’t seasoned enough to be able to embrace the sport and call it your own. That’s the absolute best part about it — the community.

So before you start going down the path of reasons why you shouldn’t do it (starting from scratch never feels great) or can’t do it (there’s so much to learn), just stop. Caving in to the voice in your head only feeds into a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure.

But if you’re genuinely curious about running and open to a world of new — and rewarding — experiences, there are two things to do immediately: First, recognize that any pain is manageable, fear is irrational and pledge to yourself that neither will stand in your way. Second, lace up those shoes, head out the door and repeat after me:

I’m not a runner… yet.

5 Steps to Becoming a Morning Workout Person

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It’s time to say “sayonara” to the snooze button.

Even though experts claim that the best time to exercise depends on your schedule and your body, the odds are still in favor of morning workouts. I mean, really, who wants to say no to happy hour?!

Here are five ways I finally motivated myself to kick off the covers and make the shift from night owl to early bird when it comes to working out:

1. Adjust your attitude.

For years the excuse that I “just wasn’t a morning person” kept me from fully committing to morning workouts. But then I realized that even the earliest of birds aren’t necessarily always keen to wake up and hit the gym first thing.

It may sound corny, but it works: fake it ’til ya make it! Don’t expect it to be easy, but do expect more consistency, progress and success with your training when you prioritize it — and, ultimately, yourself — as the first accomplishment of the day.

2. Shift your schedule.

Previously, my MO was to sleep in as late as possible. Workouts would (or wouldn’t) get slotted in on the way home from work, then by the time dinner was made, eaten and digested, it was late and I’d push the alarm back to catch a few extra z’s.

What finally made a difference for us was deciding, as a family, to eat earlier (usually around 6 or 7 p.m., as opposed to 8 or 9 p.m.). This had a reverse domino effect on our day; evenings were longer, we got to bed at a decent time, and getting up an hour earlier became doable.

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3. Remove any roadblocks. 

Getting up from the warm cocoon of my bed when it’s dark and cold out is nearly impossible. Solution? I throw open the shade and adjust our thermostat to come on about a half hour before we wake up so it’s a more inviting atmosphere.

I also make sure to work through any other potential sticking points — whether it’s picking an outfit, getting my gear together or deciding which route I’ll take, etc. — ahead of time. Tee up the essentials, and the question isn’t whether or not you’ll work out, but when.

4. Use positive reinforcement. 

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I am not above bribery when it comes to getting myself to morning workouts. And my currency of choice? Coffee (along with the occasional pastry or biscuit — just #keepingitreal; you’ve gotta find what works for you).

If it’s a long run, sure, I’ll have a cup beforehand to get things moving. But if it’s a shorter jog or I’m cross training or strength training, never underestimate the power of that caffeine-fueled carrot: a lovely cup o’ joe.

5. Reap the benefits. 

Lest you think making the switch to morning workouts is a chore (case in point: all those “change this” or “don’t do that” ideas above), it’s important to recognize that there’s a pretty awesome payoff: Being able to reclaim my evenings was nothing short of life-changing.

Because, let’s face it, when you’ve got to choose between a workout vs. a last-minute girls’ night, networking event, work dinner or even date night, we all know the odds aren’t in favor of going to the gym. Get it out of the way first thing and feel empowered that you ran your day (literally) instead of it running you.

Are you down with morning workouts? Got any more tips to share? 

On Giving Yourself Permission to Slow Down

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Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. – Ferris Bueller

After a blur of races in 2014, better judgement prevailed for 2015 and as you’ve heard me say a few times now, my mantra has been “train smarter, not harder” with five forward-looking goals for the year.

But, as they say, the best-laid plans of mice and men oft go astray…

Because somewhere along the way I talked myself into thinking that a century ride and an ultramarathon within a two-week span this summer was also part of this program.

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For the record, I give full credit to my body for finally knocking some sense into me; my SI joint, which previously only felt sore after long marathon-training runs last fall, decided enough was enough and put the kibosh on pretty much all speed and distance work this spring.

Try as I stubbornly might to power through, I’ve gotten to a point where all the strength training, chiropractor appointments, cross-training, and core work in the world aren’t helping.

So I’ve decided to do something different for a change: Nothing.

Novel concept, huh?

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Well, long story short — and two cancelled races later — I’ve realized that taking a break isn’t just about giving your body time to recover. It’s also about keeping the passion for your sport alive…and sustainable for the long run.

I run because I want to, not because I have to. And that desire is something I want to protect; not just for now, but for a long time to come.

That’s not to say I’m completely clearing my race calendar; it’s just that I’m wiping the slate clean and being more mindful about which events I choose and why. Put simply, I’m making a conscious decision to get off the further/faster/harder bandwagon that’s so easy to jump on when you’re working in the fitness industry and constantly meeting people who are all doing incredible things.

So instead of literally and figuratively racing my way through my first Oregon summer, I’m slowing down. Training will continue, but at a more leisurely pace.

And you know what? Those 2016 goals will be right there where I left them if/when the time comes to pick ’em back up.

Or — who knows?! Maybe taking a step back will inspire me or give me the perspective to define entirely new ones, such as tackling my old high school PR in the (highly-underrated; I completely agree with Lauren Fleshman) 5K distance.

But, either way, having a choice in the matter and being mindful about my running is what makes — and has always made — the endeavor such a delight. And I’d like to keep it that way.

To slow down or not to slow down: Is that a question you’ve asked yourself?

May Goal Check-In

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What a whirlwind month! Our first LUNA clinic in the books, a few Pacific Northwest adventures, an uptick in work, some Midwest travel, plus baby and birthday celebrations made for one heck of a busy May.

But as I sat down to reflect on the past 30 days, I realized that this month was less about missing the mark on the original plans I had laid out for the year — and more about how the goals themselves are evolving as the months go by.

Wondering what this is all about? Read more on the five goals toward which I’m working this year.

Here’s the latest on my progress:

1. Seeking Balance

Back in January, my definition of “balance” really meant figuring out how much I could fill my plate without it overflowing. One main component of that was running — training and racing and everything that comes with it.

But as the months unfold, I’ve accepted that there’s going to be a natural ebb and flow in my relationship with running, and I’m enjoying seeking a different kind of balance with a range of activities. Instead of planning my weeks around races and trying to fit everything else in between, I’m fitting runs into my weeks where it makes sense.

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2. Training Smarter

How is it that I can feel awesome on a nine-mile hike up Mt. Hood with 4,000+ feet of elevation change, yet as soon as I head out the door to do a measly three-mile run, my SI joint starts protesting?!

One of my biggest frustrations that I’m working through is not being able to focus on running speed or distance as much as I’d like this year (so far). But rather than continuing to fight it, I’m (finally) learning to give in and fine-tuning my efforts other areas, such as hiking, biking and strength training.

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3. Facing Fears

In other news, I’m back in the pool! Well, I’ve been in a grand total of…twice since my last update…but it’s a start, right?

And as much as I was dreading my first session back, it was just like they say about riding a bike. After a few laps I found my groove, so now the trick is just remembering that feeling and being more consistent about carving out time to get in and practice.

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4. Pushing Myself

I’m also learning that, just as “balance” can have different meanings, so can “pushing yourself.” As in sometimes it’s physical front, sometimes it’s emotional and sometimes it’s mental.

But rarely do (or should!) all three happen at once.

So while racing has had to take a temporary back seat, I’ve been forging ahead in other areas — namely work and some exciting projects coming up. More on that soon! 

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5. Giving Back

This past month was all about getting out and about in the Portland community — a place I’m so proud to be able to call home. We had our first Team LUNA Chix clinic with the ladies from Zest Nutrition (and raised $300 for Breast Cancer Fund), the SweatPink crew hit up NoPo Run Club for their anniversary run, and I’ve continued making my rounds to meet with local studio owners.

We’re getting the wheels in motion for more charity events (spin-a-thon, anyone?) for LUNA, so stay tuned. But in the meantime, we’re calling all local Portland ladies to join us for our free weekly workouts on Monday nights at 6:30 p.m. at the Duniway Park Track in Portland; all levels and abilities are welcome.

Check out our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for more info!

How are your 2015 goals coming along? 

April Goal Check-In

Source: Fast Company

Source: Fast Company

First things first: Yes, it’s mid-May. And we’re talking about April.

Better late than never!

Plus quite a bit has changed since I last touched base with my goals, so I wanted to be able to address it in this month’s recap.

Wondering what this is all about? Read more on the five goals toward which I’m working this year.

So here’s my update on how things have been going:

1. Seeking Balance

Quality over quantity. Quality over quantity. If I keep repeating that to myself, it will (hopefully) one day become second nature.

Unable to contain my excitement over living in what still feels like a “new” city, I got over-excited and over-committed myself this summer. Whoops.

Between work, travel, training, LUNA coaching, family events and other obligations pretty much every.single.weekend…the pressure’s started to build.

I’ve been feeling it in my gut with each additional ‘yes,’ but only recently did this start to register in my head. So in an attempt to stay true to this goal, I made some hard decisions this past month and had some even harder ‘no’ conversations…both with myself and others.

Like, revealing to Ben that I don’t think I’m up for both the century ride and a 50K within two weeks of each other this month. Or telling my Ragnar Utah team that I won’t be joining them for next month’s event.

And examining my other summer races in the process. Not just the whats, but also the hows and, most importantly, the whys.

I can’t help but feel some sense of failure — like I’m letting others down, as well as myself. But the fact that there’s a small victory to be found in reclaiming ownership of my schedule — and the relief that comes with that — is also not lost on me.

Balance, I’m realizing, requires bigger-picture focus. And as I get clearer on the vision I have for myself — outside of just training and racing — I feel like I’m getting closer to that sweet spot of being able to keep moving forward and challenging myself without throwing the rest of my life out of whack.

2. Training Smarter

Another motivating factor has been my SI joint, which has been extremely vocal as of late about me needing to reassess my activities in the short-term. Although I’m cleared to run, per my doctor, I’m not able to race or do speedwork without pain, so being more deliberate in my approach to workouts and events will no doubt serve me well.

In the meantime, I’ve been religiously going to the chiropractor, getting monthly massages and hitting plenty of yoga classes. And, thanks to ClassPass and this guy, I’m still focused on all that good strength and mobility cross-training to build a strong core and activate those glutes.

3. Facing Fears

Ben and I we so proud when we mustered up the motivation to hit the pool one Saturday for an early morning workout. Everything was awesome — until we got to the gym and realized it wouldn’t open for two more hours.

Needless to say, with everything else that’s been going on, swimming’s been on the back burner. Although I hope that it’ll be different this month; I do think some time following that black line would be a welcome change for both my body and mind.

4. Pushing Myself

The 50K is fast-approaching on May 25, so that’s exciting! I’m half pumped and half nervous to tackle this event with Ben, however, as it’s our first ultra-distance together…and more than double his longest race distance to-date (13.1 miles).

Most of April has been spent pushing myself on the non-physical front, though. Through the HUSH Meditation community, I met a wonderful friend/coach/mentor, and we’ve been helping each other — me, helping support the amazing work she does; her, helping me better define my ‘why,’ as well as my career vision.

I’ve been feeling scattered as of late; don’t get me wrong — there’s no shortage of great stuff going on, but I’m in the process of wrapping my head around how it all ties together. As a result, it’s made for a more contemplative, less hard-charging month, which is pretty much a theme across the board for late April and early May.

5. Giving Back

Finally, we’re a little more than a month in to Team LUNA Chix Portland Run’s 2015 season, and I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this group of women. We’ve been doing weekly workouts, and we also just hosted our first clinic of the season — a yoga and nutrition workshop to raise money for our charity, the Breast Cancer Fund (more on that in an upcoming post).

The team is gelling, we’re working on getting the word out so we can grow in size and make more of an impact, and we’ve been getting a consistent group of ladies each week who rally through a few miles together. See for yourself via our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts — and come join us Monday nights at 6:30 p.m. at the Duniway Park Track in Portland!

How are your 2015 goals coming along? 

The ‘Lazy’ Gal’s (or Guy’s) Guide To Getting Fit

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An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. -Newton’s first law of motion

My girlfriends and I were discussing workout habits while on a group run the other morning, and I joked about being one of the “laziest active people” around. Yes, I work out — probably more than the average person — but I’ve also learned how to make it easy on myself.

Easy? Well, there’s a bit of effort required, but the concept is simple: Make the path of least resistance the one that leads to fitness.

Huh? Ok, allow me to explain.

You see, years ago my workout routine consisted of dragging myself to the gym after work and halfheartedly hitting the elliptical machine for a half hour (while reading a magazine) before calling it a day. I was too tired to cook well, bedtime would get pushed back, I’d sleep in to try to catch up, etc.

Repeat again and again with the exception of a few races. I’d schedule and train for them, but fall off the wagon in between.

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It wasn’t until my fall marathon in 2013 that I finally decided to stop the vicious cycle once and for all. I was sick of training hard into injury, then spending months healing and recovering…only to find myself back at square one.

You can only play Jenga with yourself so many times before the excitement of seeing how high you can stack the pile before everything comes crashing down loses its appeal.

Instead, I vowed to take a new approach, one that would allow me to once and for all create a solid foundation. Step one was deciding to make fitness a lifestyle — something that I live and breathe every day — instead of an option. Step two was to figuring out a game plan. And step three was putting it in action and conservatively building on successes.

So here’s how I started offsetting my sedentary habits for good:

1. Stop thinking, start doing.

Get up! Quite simply, sit less and move more – and once you start, don’t stop. It began with a nightly walk around the block with my dogs, then I started building up my mileage and adding strength training between races to push my fitness threshold.

Weekend runs were no longer just a means to an end (i.e. the same five-mile loop to our farmer’s market for fresh kettle corn); they became part of a bigger plan of slowly building a larger base so I wouldn’t have to start from zero each training cycle.

2. Watch your mouth.

As in, what you put in it. You are what you eat, and it’ll translate into your training, so make it count. Avoid processed foods, practice portion control and aim to incorporate more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Once I started seeing food as fuel and feeling the impact of my choices — both good and bad — I wanted to give my body what it needed to get stronger and stay healthy. Rather than viewing it as extra work, I got excited when I saw how it was so closely connected to performance.

3. Ask for help. 

It can be intimidating starting a new routine, so seek out people on whom you can rely for advice, motivation and inspiration. Join a local running club or swim team for coaching, or enlist the help of friends who are seasoned athletes and can explain the finer points of various training concepts.

You’ve got to know yourself and what works for you; I get bored easily, so I knew I’d need to mix things up. I started adding cross-training in the form of different classes, which not only challenged my mind, but also made me a stronger runner. My November Project tribe was also immensely helpful when it came to staying motivated; there was always someone doing something — or someone who was game for anything.

4. DIY at home.

You can thank Jane Fonda for this one. After inspiring a home video fitness craze among millions of baby boomers, she paved the way for P90X, Insanity and a host of other DVD-based workout programs in our generation.

Let’s face it, we all get our days when we’d rather hit the couch than the treadmill. So I made a deal with myself that if I didn’t get to the gym for a workout, I’d at least move around at home with one of my workout DVDs (I happen to love Beachbody’s, and they don’t pay me to say that).

5. Sign up for a race.

A mere two months of three 20-30 minute sessions per week stand between you and the finish line, so it’s totally doable. Check out my couch-to-five-miler plan, which takes you step-by-step through the process if you’ve got your eye on an event this season but don’t know where to start.

When all else fails, having a deadline can be very motivating. And once you have that race date in the calendar, the key is to back out from that day and create a training plan (the actual length will depend on your current level of fitness and the race duration).

I put my marathon plans front and center on the fridge and even make check boxes so I can cross off runs as I complete them. Take it one step at a time, one workout at a time and before you know it, you’ll be living — and actually looking forward to — a more active lifestyle.

How do you motivate yourself out of a workout slump?

March Goal Check-In

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Time for a reality check: Now that we’ve officially “sprung forward,” we’re one quarter of the way into 2015.

I wrote previously about the five goals toward which I’m working this year, and here’s my update on how things are progressing:

1. Seeking Balance

I’m still slowly building out my race schedule for 2015 with a focus on quality over quantity. Ben and I are currently in the process of building up mileage for the Corvallis Half Marathon mid-month; instead of all-out racing it, though, I’m using it to train into May’s century bike ride (my first 100-miler!) and 50K.

It may seem like we’re peaking early in the season, but we’re doing these events more for the experience (and for a good cause, in the case of the ride) than for time.

2. Training Smarter

Thanks to ClassPass, I’ve been doing all kinds of cross training and am starting to see tangible gains. From completing rope climbs to balancing in side crows, I’m stronger all over — although I’m still working toward that elusive unassisted pull-up.

The one missing piece of the puzzle is mobility, however, so I’ve started seeing a chiropractor to help with my range of motion (my mid-back seems to be stuck…the dreaded desk-job computer hunch!) and am also trying to be more disciplined about stretching, foam rolling and yoga to balance out all the strength training.

3. Facing Fears

Zip. Zilch. Nada. Whoops. 

To be honest, I’ve been in a total mental funk when it comes to the pool, so I haven’t been pushing it. But I’m hoping that this will change in April, especially because I could probably use more non-impact activity in my days.

4. Pushing Myself

I’m officially registered for my second 50K, my first century ride and my first duathlon this summer. For some reason, the pursuit of a PR in what I’d call my “usual” running events (half marathon, marathon) isn’t as motivating to me at the moment; what I’m most excited about is trying some new disciplines. Bonus: If it’s a new event, it’s an automatic PR!

I’ve also been making some headway in another direction with meditation classes. After stumbling upon the wonderful HUSH Meditation community, I ended up adding mental fitness to my weekly workout regimen. It’s a simple act — literally, 45 minutes of stillness one evening per week — yet the process has been transformative (more on that soon in another post).

5. Giving Back

And, finally, we’re officially kicking off our 2015 season with the Team LUNA Chix Portland Run team next Monday, April 6, at 6:30 pm at Lincoln High School’s track here in Portland. I’ll be leading a workout, and it’s open to the public, so everyone is welcome!

Come join us; make some new running friends and fuel up after with free LUNA bars; how can you say no to that?!

How are your 2015 goals coming along? 

Join us Monday Nights for Team LUNA Chix Portland Run Workouts!

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Thanks to social media (i.e. a deluge of Twitter and Instagram posts!), you probably know I was down in Berkeley, Calif., this past weekend for the annual LUNA Chix Summit. This event serves as the official kick-off for the Team LUNA Chix season, which runs from April to October.

As I mentioned in a previous post, Terra Castro, a friend from high school who just happens to be a former professional triathlete and current LUNA sponsored athlete, invited me to check out last year’s Summit. Just one day with these incredible women, and I was hooked. I just knew I had to be a part of what they were doing.

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Why? Well, there a lot of inspiring (read: bad-ass) athletes in this crew. But — more importantly — as much as they’re into challenging themselves, they’re equally as committed to supporting and motivating other women to get active in a non-competitive environment.

So fast forward one year, and we’re launching a team here in Portland. But it’s not about us, even though we do have our own athletic goals that we’ll be striving for throughout the year; rather, our weekly workouts are about YOU, your goals and providing a platform with which women can connect with one another.

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Our goal is to set an example in the community as a running team that supports ALL fitness levels. Regardless of if you’ve never run a step in your life or if you’re a super-seasoned marathoner, we’d love to have you join us and help empower each other to be active, healthy and happy.

Our workouts are Monday evenings from 6:30-7:30 pm, rotating between a few locations (check our Twitter & Facebook pages for details, and — shameless plug — please follow & friend us!). Our first one, though, will take place on April 6 at the Lincoln High School track in Portland. Hope to see you there!

In the meantime, I thought it’d be fun to share a few highlights from the weekend…

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Team leaders arrived Thursday so we could get down to business first thing Friday morning. We chatted about the brand, our goals for the season and best practices from the more established teams.

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We also heard from ladies at the Breast Cancer Fund, which is our charity partner. Little did I know, they’re not so much about fighting breast cancer as they are about preventing it. They gave a fascinating talk about how you can reduce your risk by reducing your exposure to toxic chemicals and radiation.

By early afternoon we were ready to get out into the sun, so we met outside for an easy four-mile shake-out run.

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After we showered up and changed, we headed over to Clif Bar & Company headquarters for a tour and dinner. This company lives and breathes the philosophy that “every day is an opportunity to do something that matters.”

Not only are they working to create a more sustainable food system by being responsible with how they source ingredients for their products, but they also are actively working to reduce their ecological footprint, be it by subsidizing the purchase of hybrid vehicles, using solar power to run the office or incentivizing employees to bike to work.

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The food was also nothing short of amazing. Megan, being a Registered Dietitian with her own nutrition company, was particularly impressed with the spread.

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I, however, was even more excited about the dessert table with treats from Snickerdoodle Sweets. The owner, Tiffany, talked to us about being a female entrepreneur and pursuing your dreams, and then she lead us in a fun cupcake-decorating competition.

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By Saturday morning, our sugar highs had subsided. We started the day with yoga before settling into some more training sessions — this time with the larger group of team leaders and members.

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After learning more about team dynamics and tips for new teams throughout the morning and early afternoon, we broke up into categories by sport and prepped for afternoon activities. Of course, I couldn’t resist another workout with Terra, so I headed to the track for her clinic!

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We had a blast doing 400’s with the LUNA professional and sponsored athletes. We weren’t running close to what I’d imagine their usual pace(s) to be, but it was thrilling running alongside them in the workout…and it’s that same feeling our team hopes to give to everyone who joins us on runs.

Unfortunately my darn SI joint was acting up again, so I opted out of the aqua jog clinic. Instead, I went to San Francisco Run team leader Dr. Heather Maxwell’s clinic on foam rolling and stuck around after to pick her brain for tips on how to keep strengthening my sleepy glutes.

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By then it was time to shower up and head to dinner. Our guest speaker was the President & CEO of the Breast Cancer Fund, Jeanne Rizzo.

She’s as entertaining as she is informative, and her talk was one of the most memorable moments of the weekend, as it was last year.

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After Jeanne spoke, we enjoyed watching a series of poignant short films, all of which are featured in this year’s LUNAFEST lineup. LUNAFEST is a traveling film festival of award-winning short films by, for and about women — and they did not disappoint; I highly recommend checking it out, if it comes to a city near you!

Sunday morning, we had the choice of easing in with yoga, Pilates or a run mechanics clinic. I opted to pick up some more tips from Terra on exercises to help get your body get into better running form (fingers crossed for those SI issues).

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Then it was time for the wrap-up run, so Megan and I decided to sport our new LUNA kits on our six-miler. The  tanks were really comfy, and I’m excited to get the rest of the team decked out for our season!

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About an hour later, we arrived back at the hotel — drenched in sweat, on a runner’s high and slightly sad that our 2015 Summit time was coming to an end. We showered up and ate lunch with the LUNA athletes and our fellow team members out in the sun before bidding each other goodbye until next year.

The good news, though, is that our enthusiasm coming our of Summit is about a 12 on a scale of 1-10. So get ready, Portland, because it’s going to be an exciting inaugural season as we embark on this adventure together!

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Want to join in on the fun? Stay tuned for updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and don’t forget to join us on Monday evenings for workouts and clinics when you’re in the Portland area.

Not in PDX? Don’t despair; there’s a good chance LUNA’s got a local team in a city near you, so click here to check.

Hope to grab some miles with you this season; please help us spread word that LUNA is in Portland — and ready to RUN!

The Last-Minute Half Marathon Training Plan

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What do you do when you’ve got a half marathon in less than six weeks and your running game has been lacking as of late?

A) Calculate the plausibility of using this month’s time change as an excuse for missing the race…next month.

B) Petition the race director to allow you to turn it into an impromptu duathlon.

C) Briefly consider hosting a blog giveaway for your bib.

D) Make a game plan, and get after it.

Answer: You guessed it, which is why I created this last-minute training strategy for getting Ben and I across the finish line of the Corvallis Half Marathon on April 12.

It’s nothing fancy, but it’s been helping us conservatively safely build up our mileage and will even allow for a tiny taper before race day.

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It’s still early in the season, and I’ve been doing way more cross training than running, so I’m not on the hunt for a PR (Ben may beg to differ; he’s eyeing a sub-1:50 finish). Rather, the idea is just to ease my legs — and my mind — back in to racing, so I can start to build toward that 50K in May.

As much as my off-season feels like it’s been extended into spring, I’ve loved taking the past few months to focus on strength, flexibility and adaptability with all different kinds of workouts. Plus, the mental break has been invaluable; I’m really looking forward to digging into training, as well as ramping up with Team LUNA Chix Portland Run come April 6 when our season officially kicks off.

What’s your approach to the upcoming race season?